Michael van Gerwen slams Peter Wright’s ‘absurd’ claims and calls Luke Littler World Darts Championship’s ‘largest disappointment’ | Darts Information

Three-time world champion Michael van Gerwen has slammed world darts champion Peter Wright’s claims as “absurd” and branded event favourite Luke Littler’s type a “disappointment”.

Van Gerwen booked a quarter-final date with Callan Rydz with a 4-2 win over Jeffrey de Graaf on Monday night time and subsequently the world quantity 3 took goal at Wright’s declare that Rydz must be favourite.

Rydz is unseeded however has produced the 2 highest averages of the event thus far – 107.06 in opposition to Romeo Grbavac in his opening match, and 105.31 in a 4 -0 in opposition to eleventh seed Dimitri Van den Bergh within the third spherical.

“I need to play like Callan Rydz,” Wright mentioned after knocking out defending champion Luke Humphries within the fourth spherical. “He must be favourite for this event. He performs excellent darts and lengthy might it proceed.”

This got here after Wright had already made headlines for saying he was “out to upset Luke Littler” and “right here to upset Luke Humphries”, who known as out his “thoughts video games” earlier than shedding in opposition to the two-time champion from Alexandra Palace.

“Yearly at Worlds he says a lot nonsense,” Van Gerwen mentioned of Wright’s newest feedback.

“He is at all times allowed to say silly issues. Nobody takes him critically on tour as a result of he is not allowed to voice his opinion at residence.”

Requested about his opponent within the spherical of 16, Rydz, Van Gerwen replied Aerial sports activities: “I feel he has the best common within the event thus far, so you possibly can’t underestimate him.

“I feel he performs implausible darts, however we’ll see. It’s going to be the primary five-setter, it is a completely totally different recreation.”

He added: “Once I play properly, I do not panic. Once I keep targeted, after I proceed to imagine in my very own skills, something is feasible. I am not right here to have enjoyable, I am right here to win a event, and everyone knows it.

For Van Gerwen to win, he might should face event favourite and final 12 months’s runner-up, Littler, within the closing.

The 17-year-old twice averaged above 100 in his three matches till the quarter-finals, together with a powerful 103.13 when beating Ryan Joyce within the fourth spherical, whereas being compelled into the ultimate set decisive.

Her 4-3 victory means Littler has misplaced 5 units thus far within the event, only one fewer than her complete run to the ultimate final 12 months.

“I feel the largest disappointment thus far is Luke Littler,” Van Gerwen added in his press convention, forward of Littler’s victory over Joyce. “Lots of people count on lots from him, that’s why he’s not 100%.”

Requested about Van Gerwen’s feedback after confirming his place within the quarter-finals, the place he’ll face twelfth seed Nathan Aspinall, Littler mentioned: “Which may reply just a few questions however I am simply proud of the end result, proud of the facility of the rating.

What’s subsequent on the Worlds?

Motion on the World Darts Championship resumes on New 12 months’s Day, with every of Wednesday’s two classes that includes two quarter-finals.

The afternoon session will see Chris Dobey tackle 2021 champion Gerwyn Worth, earlier than three-time winner Michael van Gerwen takes on Callan Rydz.

What guarantees to be a spectacular night will start with two-time champion Peter Wright taking up Stephen Bunting, earlier than Luke Littler takes on Nathan Aspinall.

Who will win the Paddy Energy World Darts Championship? Watch each match completely stay till January 3 on Sky Sports activities’ devoted darts channel. Stream darts and many other top sports with NOW.